A man rises to the pinnacle of earthly wealth, fame, and power by calling on demonic powers; his twin's opposing path brings him into direct conflict.

Plunge into the heart of the oil conflicts that pit nation against nation in the Middle East—and threaten to topple a fragile world economy. With the discovery of a secret oil pipeline—once funded by Iran to connect the Mediterranean to the Red Sea through the heart of Isreal—comes Isreal's shocking emergence as the world's newest oil and gas superpower. Meanwhile, ancient fights that have split Islam for hundreds of years threaten to shatter an uneasy peace forged between Isreal, Iran, and the United States—until news of the emergence of the Mahdi threatens to change the balance of power forever in the Middle East.

Israel has just decided to atack Iran's nuclear facilities, triggering a chain of portentially cataclysmic events around the plant. Will world leaders and the "salt of the earth"—great and small—be able to intervene before events spin out of control? A nucelar scientist imprisoned in North Korea, an NGO entrepreneur, and the brilliant chief of staff at the White House are determined to make a difference. But is there a way to stop what seems unstoppable? What Iran, Israel, North Korea, and other earthly principalities and powers decide next could lead to global controntation.